Marine Conservation Zones proposed

Proposed new Marine Conservation Zones around the UK shoreline have been announced.

More than 100 areas in total have been suggested, ranging from small stretches of coast to large offshore sites.

The MCZs are protected from fishing, bottom trawling, drilling and other similar potentially damaging activities. Each proposed Zone has been put forward by a group of vested interests, typically made up of local divers, renewable energy companies or the M.O.D.

MCZs up for consideration include diver’s favourites like Chesil Beach in Dorset, Land’s End and large swatches of the Cornish coast.

A panel of experts will now consider the merits of each zone, which could be given a different level of protection. Some may be restricted areas year-round, others only at specific times, some may be no-take zones only, and so on.

The government’s Marine Protected Area Science Advisory Panel is now to consider the merits of each bid.

Less than 1% of our coastline is currently designated an MCZ. If all are approved, this figure would jump to more than 25%.